Trigger finger

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Tests and diagnosis

By Mayo Clinic staff

Diagnosis of trigger finger doesn't require any elaborate testing. Your doctor or health care provider makes the diagnosis based on your medical history and a physical exam. During the physical exam, your doctor will ask you to open and close your hand, checking for areas of pain, smoothness of motion and evidence of locking. Rarely, your doctor may inject a numbing medication (local anesthetic) to reduce pain so that he or she can proceed with the physical exam of your fingers and hand.

Treatments and drugs Preparing for your appointment
References
  1. Anderson BC. Trigger finger (stenosing flexor tenosynovitis). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 7, 2011.
  2. Trigger finger. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00024. Accessed Sept. 7, 2011.
  3. Akhtar S, et al. Management and referral for trigger finger/thumb. British Medical Journal. 2005;331:30.
  4. Wright PE II. Carpal tunnel, ulnar tunnel, and stenosing tenosynovitis. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/159164477-5/0/1584/566.html?tocnode=55690331&fromURL=566.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50076-3--cesec16_4012. Accessed Sept. 14, 2011.
  5. Silver JK. Trigger finger. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/159164477-5/0/1678/36.html?tocnode=55147984&fromURL=36.html. Accessed Sept. 7, 2011.
  6. Peters-Veluthamaningal C, et al. Corticosteroid injection for trigger finger in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2009:CD005617. http://www2.cochrane.org/reviews. Accessed Sept. 14, 2011.
DS00155 Oct. 25, 2011

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